A NOBEL Prize-winning scientist is urging promising students to consider new financial scholarships in a bid to help retain and attract the best minds to Wales.

Professor Sir Martin Evans, president of Cardiff University, said the institution’s current crop of scholars were helping to push the boundaries of research.

The world-renowned geneticist made the call as the second round of Cardiff University’s flagship President’s Research Scholarships for 2011 are rolled out.

Sir Martin, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2007 for his pioneering research into embryonic stem cells, said: “Cardiff University’s President’s Research Scholarships offer outstanding students the financial support needed to continue their postgraduate research studies.

“In the current economic climate, students could be thinking twice about continuing their studies.

“These scholarships are designed to ensure that lack of funds do not become a barrier to continuing cutting-edge postgraduate research.”

The President’s Research Scholarships were established to coincide with the inauguration of Sir Martin as Cardiff University’s new president in 2010.

The scholarships are designed to attract students seeking to work on challenging projects in dynamic research environments and are targeted at the highest quality candidates.

The first 38 students have already joined the university, the majority of them from the UK but including outstanding students from countries worldwide.

Areas already under investigation include the ice sheets in past eras of global warming and the effect of environmental change on the Severn Estuary.

Many other projects tackle issues of sustainability and include de-carbonising the power sector, planning in sub-Saharan Africa and biofuels production.

Health projects include new therapeutics for breast cancer and imaging of functions in the brain cortex. Other students are investigating issues around multiculturalism and national identity.

Further information on all of Cardiff University’s research scholarships and dates for entries are available at www.cardiff.ac.uk